Calls for help from CMH bathroom went unheard

Cambridge Times

After becoming ill and vomiting blood on the evening of New Year’s day, I made my way to Cambridge Memorial Hospital.

Upon arrival, the triage nurse advised me that I would have to wait approximately five hours before seeing a doctor. As I sat in the ER waiting area, I became very dizzy and nauseous, resulting in vomiting pure blood again, in the ER bathroom. I did not have the strength to get up, so I pulled the emergency string in the bathroom for help.

Fortunately a gentlemen sitting outside the bathroom noticed the light blinking and notified my mom who had accompanied me to the ER. My mom then notified the registration nurses that the light was blinking and that I was in there and needed help, but the door was locked. They then told my mom that she would have to wait for the triage nurse to return as they had no way to get in.

After a few minutes I managed to get up and make my way out of the bathroom, and to the registration desk myself. I notified the nurse that I needed to see a doctor as I was vomiting blood, and that they should probably get someone in there to clean up the mess. She told me again to have a seat and that she would let the triage nurse know what happened and that he needed to see me again.

As I sat right in front of the triage desk/registration desk, I waited at least 15 to 20 minutes and watched the triage nurse come back and continue to take new patients. The registration nurse didn’t even tell the triage nurse what had happened.

Very frustrated, I walked into the triage desk area and told the nurse that I had been vomiting blood again, he then told me to just have a seat, that there was still blood work to do, and that a doctor would see me soon. I then became very upset and told the nurse that I’d pulled the emergency string and still, even at that very moment, no one had gone to see what was the matter in the ER bathroom – God forbid anyone’s left to die there.

The nurse then told me to have a seat and that he’d be right back. He came back in five minutes to let me know that I was now first in line for the next available bed. After another 15 minutes I returned to the bathroom feeling nauseous and still no one had come to clean the washroom. Finally while in the other ER bathroom, I was called in to see a doctor.

After a few tests they found that I had an ulcer in my esophagus, and I stayed three nights and two days at CMH. I really hope someone cleaned that bathroom, before anyone from the public had to go in there and I really hope no one else needs to call for help while in the bathroom, because that might be where they die, since no one is able to help them. I can honestly say I will never recommend or go to CMH ever again, unless an ambulance takes me there.

However, after everything that happened, I do want to thank Dr. Kolyn and Amanda (fourth-floor nurse) for their constant monitoring and attention during my stay.